Cervical cancer strikes close to 13,000 women each year, claiming over 4,200 lives. Traditional treatment options include surgery to remove the affected tissue, radiation therapy using high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells, chemotherapy drugs to destroy the affected cells (although healthy cells are killed too), or a combination thereof. However, these treatments are invasive and have low success rates.

Now, a study by researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia has confirmed that blueberry extract not only enhances the effects of radiation therapy – one of the most popular treatments for cervical cancer – but is even more successful than radiation at destroying cancer cells.

A radiosensitizer turns out to be a potent treatment

The University of Missouri research team wanted to investigate the use of blueberry extract as a radiosensitizer – a non-toxic, natural substance which enhances the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. The team previously had success treating prostate cancer using a polyphenol in red grapes called resveratrol as a radiosensitizer.

To their surprise, blueberry extract not only proved to be a powerful radiosensitizer, but was shown to be an even more effective cervical cancer treatment than radiation.

Study participants were divided into four groups: The first group was only given radiation therapy; a second group received only blueberry extract; a control group received no treatment at all; and a fourth group received a combination of both radiation therapy and blueberry extract.

The radiation-only group exhibited an average decrease in cancer cells of 20 percent; the blueberry extract group had a 25 percent improvement; and the combination radiation/blueberry extract group had a whopping 70 percent decrease in cancer cell proliferation.

Why are blueberries such potent cancer fighters?

The team reported that the extract suppressed a pair of molecules, cyclin D and cyclin E, that encourage the cancerous transformation of cells. In addition to limiting cancer cell proliferation, the blueberry extract caused cells to undergo apoptosis, a type of programmed cell “suicide.”

And, it accomplished this without causing any harmful side effects. (The same can’t be said of radiation, which can damage healthy surrounding cells along with the malignant ones – and cause side effects such as fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bowel obstruction).

An earlier study by researchers at Florida State University found that blueberries interfere with the production of pro-inflammatory molecules, which prevents the formation of malignant tumors. As noted by Natural Health 365, the study concluded that these powerful little berries also combat DNA damage and oxidative stress, while reducing the proliferation of cancer cells and inducing the cancer cell “suicide” known as apoptosis.

Other studies have confirmed that blueberries are potent medicine against both colon and prostate cancer cells.

They help prevent heart attacks: One study found that just three servings of blueberries or strawberries weekly can help women prevent heart attacks.

They protect the lungs: Compounds called anthocyanins protect the lungs as we age, and men who consume two or more servings of blueberries a week have been found to exhibit at least 37.9 percent less decline in lung function than those who do not do so.

There are plenty of reasons to increase blueberry consumption – and considering how delicious they are, it’s hardly a hardship to do so!